The founder of HemCon Medical Technologies, the bankrupt Portland-based medical bandage company, wasnât happy to see a blistering letter from one of his investors, divorce lawyer Jody Stahancyk, published in these pages (âThe Scarlet Letter,â WW, Aug. 1, 2012). HemCon co-founder Dr. Kenton Gregory filed a complaint with the Oregon State Bar the next day, alleging Stahancyk had violated attorney-client confidentiality; Stahancyk had served as Gregoryâs divorce attorney and made reference to Gregoryâs children while scorching him for his management of HemCon, in which she and others lost money. Stahancyk wrote: âHad I made the choices you did, your children would be roadkill.â âI recognize that Ms. Stahancykâs letter is strident in tone,â bar assistant general counsel Paul Neese wrote Gregory in dismissing his complaint. âThe bar has no authority to impose professional discipline on a lawyer for making rude or discourteous statements.â

Think the $3.5 billion for the Columbia River Crossing will be spent on the bridge, freeway improvements and light-rail line? Think again. Vancouver-based forensic accountant Tiffany Couch has found $50.6 million is budgeted for TriMetâs Ruby Junction light-rail maintenance facility, 16 miles from the CRC site. The reason? So Ruby Junction can handle 19 additional light-rail cars for a new Vancouver line. Couch notes the Milwaukie MAX expansion will add 20 cars but only includes $8.1 million for Ruby Junction. Couch called the CRC money padded on for TriMetâs facility âsignificant enough to be classified as an irregularity.â The CRC did not return calls for comment.

Update: Last week, Murmurs reported Jack Ohman, The Oregonianâs award-wining editorial cartoonist, took a buyout after 29 years at the daily. Heâs landed at The Sacramento Bee, where he will replace his friend Rex Babin, who died in March. The McClatchy-owned newspaper in Californiaâs state capital will give Ohman, a Pulitzer finalist this year, a bigger stage. Oregonian publisher N. Christian Anderson III says the newspaper has not yet decided whether it will hire a new cartoonist.

After Hurricane Sandy battered New York City last week, one former Portlander was on the scene: David Bragdon reported for duty as a tree inspector. Bragdon, a former Metro Council president, directs New York Mayor Michael Bloombergâs planning office. Bragdon spent Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 as an arboreal first responder, inspecting about 150 Brooklyn trees toppled by the superstorm. âWe were generally the first city employees people had seen,â Bragdon says. âThereâs something really satisfying about it. It might be more satisfying to be on the chainsaw crew. Maybe next time.â